Melody and Chord Progressions Flashcards

What does a 'secondary dominant' such as V/V (five of five) do in a progression?

Answer: Temporarily tonicizes a chord other than the tonic

A secondary dominant acts as the dominant of a chord other than I, briefly making that chord feel like a temporary home.

Which scale is most commonly used to write country and folk vocal melodies because it avoids dissonant tones?

Answer: The major pentatonic scale

The major pentatonic scale's five notes avoid the more dissonant intervals, making melodies sound consonant and singable.

A 'turnaround' at the end of a section primarily serves what purpose?

Answer: Leads the harmony back to the start of the next section

A turnaround is a short progression that redirects the harmony back to the top for the next verse or chorus.

Which chord substitution adds color by replacing the V chord with a chord a tritone away in jazz-influenced songwriting?

Answer: Tritone substitution

A tritone substitution swaps the dominant for a dominant chord a tritone away, sharing key tones but adding chromatic motion.

What is 'call and response' in melody writing?

Answer: A phrase is answered by a contrasting or complementary phrase

Call and response pairs a musical 'question' phrase with an 'answer' phrase, a hallmark of blues and country.

In a minor key, which chord is often raised to create a stronger dominant function leading to the tonic?

Answer: The V chord (raising the seventh to form a major V)

Raising the seventh scale degree turns the minor v into a major V, giving a strong leading tone toward the tonic.

Why might a songwriter use a suspended chord (sus2 or sus4) in a progression?

Answer: To create tension that resolves when the suspended note moves to a chord tone

Suspended chords replace the third with a 2nd or 4th, creating an open, unresolved sound that resolves to the major or minor third.